Whisper Number Impact: Earnings Preview For AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is expected to report fiscal first quarter earnings on Tuesday, April 23rd. The whisper number is $0.66, one cent ahead of the analysts' estimate. T has a 57% positive surprise history (having topped the whisper in 25 of the 44 earnings reports for which we have data).

Earnings history:

- Beat whisper: 25 qtrs- Met whisper: 2 qtrs- Missed whisper: 17 qtrs

Our primary focus is on post earnings price movement. Knowing how likely a stock's price will move following an earnings report can help you determine the best action to take (long or short). In other words, we look at what happens when the company beats or misses the whisper number expectation.

The table below indicates the average post earnings price movement within a one and thirty trading day timeframe:

Click to enlarge

The strongest price movement of +4.0% comes within thirty trading days when the company reports earnings that beat the whisper number, and -2.7% within twenty trading days when the company reports earnings that miss the whisper number. The overall price movement is as expected through thirty trading days when the company reports earnings.

The table below indicates the most recent earnings reports and short-term price reaction:

Click to enlarge

In the comparable quarter last year, the company did not have a whisper number. Last quarter the company reported earnings one cent short of the whisper number. Following that report the stock realized a 1.1% gain in five trading days. Overall historical data indicates the company to be (on average) an "as expected" price reactor through thirty trading days when the company reports earnings.

Since 1998, WhisperNumber.com has been tracking and publishing "crowd sourced estimates" for earnings. We call these earnings expectations whisper numbers. Our whisper numbers are gained from individual investors and traders just like you who have registered with our site. While the whisper number itself is an important part of our analysis, a company's "price reaction" to beating or missing the whisper number expectation is the key. On average, companies that exceed the whisper are "rewarded," while companies that miss are "punished" following an earnings report.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.